Looking Ahead at the 2023 Cruise Season in Atlantic Canada
After a successful 2022 cruise season in Atlantic Canada, ACCA is expecting an even more promising 2023 season. With hundreds of cruise ships already scheduled to arrive here in 2023, Atlantic Canada is in a strong position to see growth in numbers across all ports.
“Atlantic Canada was making strong progress as a cruise ship destination before the pandemic shut the industry down. Our focus now is regaining that momentum and working with our community partners to build a sustainable industry that delivers real economic benefit to the region as cruise guests get a chance to experience the enviable quality of life we enjoy here.” said Sarah Rumley, ACCA, Executive Director.
After a two-year suspension on cruise ships visiting Atlantic Canada due to COVID-19 restrictions, the industry made a strong comeback in 2022, welcoming 474 ships and 622,811 passengers. Cruise ships are a key part of the region’s tourism industry, supporting a wide range of businesses and attractions and creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
The 2022 cruise season set a strong foundation for the industry after a two-year pause. ACCA’s Partner Ports shined once again, welcoming over 360 cruise ships over the cruise season.
Over 575,000 passengers experienced Charlottetown, Corner Brook, Halifax, Saint John, and Sydney.
Niche Ports in Atlantic Canada made an impressive return to cruise this season, welcoming over 23-thousand passengers. This represents a 24% increase in passengers visits to niche ports since the 2019 season.
The number of ships and passengers visiting the region would have been even greater had it not been for Hurricane Fiona, one of the strongest hurricanes to hit Atlantic Canada in decades. It forced a number of cruise ships to cancel their visits as the storm hit and while the damage in some ports was being repaired. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Sydney, Nova Scotia were the ports most impacted by Fiona, and the numbers are reflective of that.
“Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Fiona, 2022 was a strong cruise ship season in Atlantic Canada. More and more, visitors around the world are appreciating the culture, heritage and wide-open spaces found in Atlantic Canada. We saw more opportunity for sustainable growth and the economic impact it will bring to our communities,” said Mike Cochrane, Chair of ACCA.
(ACCA – Atlantic Canada Cruise Association)
